Frank Sherman Hertzog Obituary
Denver, Idaho, United States
December 25, 1920 - August 15, 2016
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Frank Sherman Hertzog Obituary
Dec 25, 1920 - Aug 15, 2016
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Col. Frank Hertzog (Ret)1920 ~ 2016Col. (Ret) Frank Sherman Hertzog, 95, U.S. Army, of Huntsville, AL, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 15, 2016.Frank was born on his grandmother's farm in Baldwin County, KS on Christmas, 1920, to Oscar Hertzog of Reading, PA and Minnie Hibner of Hecla, SD. He was raised in NW Colorado on his family's homestead, and in Maybell with his younger brother, Paul. Frank graduated from Manual High School in Denver and began studies in Economics and ROTC at Colorado State A&M College in Ft. Collins. Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1943, he served in the European Theater with the 90th Infantry Division, Third U.S. Army. Arriving at Utah Beach in Normandy on D-Day plus five, he was a Forward Observer in numerous campaigns across Europe including the battles of Normandy, the Falais Pocket, Metz Crossing, and the Battle of the Bulge. He earned a Silver Star,
Bronze Star, and Air medal w/four Oak Leaf clusters, among others.Frank met Irmgard (Jeanne) Seeanner of Gangkofen, Germany in Neunburg vorm Wald while serving with occupation forces near the German/Czech border. Upon return to Colorado, he completed his degree at Colorado State A&M. Eager to pursue Irmgard, he gained assignment to Friedberg, Germany with the US State Dept., and they were married on October 22, 1949. They returned to Denver where Frank completed a Master's degree in Business Administration at the Univ. of Denver before being called back to active duty in the military at the outbreak of the
Korean War, during which he served in a combat role. His Army career included assignments at Fort Riley, KS; Fort Sill, OK; Zweibrucken, Germany; the ROTC Department at
Texas A&M University; heading a civilian plant in St. Louis making 105 mm howitzer shells, used to play a vital role in protecting our soldiers in Vietnam; and two additional tours in Korea. He had three tours at Redstone Arsenal, AL. From 1957 to 1959 he was a part of the Redstone Missile Group, involving the collaboration of the team of German scientists led by Werner von Braun to make the first successful launch of a US satellite in 1958, in response to Russia's Sputnik. In his last Redstone assignment, Frank served as the Commandant, Missile and Munitions Center and School, at the end of which he was awarded the Legion of Merit. Upon retirement in 1975, he studied three years at the University of Alabama in Huntsville earning a second Bachelors Degree, before launching into a career at Sperry Rand for 7 years. He and Jeanne lived in Huntsville, AL as community residents for 48 years.A devoted and loving husband and father, Frank's marriage to Jeanne blessed them with 3 children; Frank Allen, Mike and Linda. An avid bowler, golfer, and lover of works of history and poetry, he encouraged his children's educational, civic and recreational pursuits and particularly enjoyed passing down his lifelong passions for flyfishing and horsemanship. He was an active member of an OCF Bible study(for almost 40 years), the Mooreland Hunt Club in Huntsville, and the 90th Division Association, participating in numerous annual reunions including retracing his battle route in Europe on the 60th anniversary of D-Day. He often brought his children and grandchildren to reunions enabling them to share intimately in the stories of the TOs (Tough 'Ombres). He served as co-president of the 2008 reunion in Irving, TX with his son, Lt. Col (Ret) Frank Allen Hertzog.He is predeceased by his brother, Paul, and son, Frank Allen. His wife of 66 years, Jeanne, followed him in death five days after his passing. Frank is survived by his two remaining children, Mike Hertzog (Mary Anne) of Signal Mountain, TN and Linda Jernigan (Randy) of Durango, CO; daughter-in-law, Debbie Hertzog of Boise, ID; eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and thirty-six nephews and nieces.Frank will long be remembered for his legacy of honesty, integrity and dedication to God, country and family.He will be laid to rest with full military honors at the Chattanooga National Military Cemetery, 2-3:00 PM, on September 23, 2016.Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 South Moore Road, East Ridge, TN.Please share your thoughts and memories at
www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com.
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